After over 24 years of simulating life with green plumbobs over the heads of your created characters, EA is ready to push on even further into a bright future for The Sims. In a lengthy announcement, we got to know just where else the blockbuster franchise is headed to, such as Hollywood, and the way the games are being transformed with the help of fans.
Franchise Updates
If you were hoping for a proper sequel, it is likely your hopes are dashed, as EA shared that “The Sims will move beyond linear, sequential Sims releases and offer more options for players than ever before.”
How that will ultimately shape up remains to be seen, but the announcement does point to “a variety of games and experiences that will touch different categories across the simulated life genre including cosy games, social and collaborative based gameplay, mobile narrative games and continued depth, improvements, and modernization of The Sims 4, which will continue to be a foundational Sims experience.”
That all sounds like exciting ideas, but here’s what is already being worked on and coming out soon:
MySims: Cozy Bundle
The Nintendo Switch will soon get in on the action with the arrival of the MySims: Cozy Bundle, which contains MySims and MySims Kingdom. They will feature upgraded graphics, special content from the original PC release, native controls, and touch screen support.
Project Rene
The new project remains a closely guarded secret, but it will be “focused on building ways for friends to meet, connect, and share while playing together in an all-new world.”
A invite-only playtest will be taking place in Fall 2024, allowing testers an early look at the multiplayer nature of the project, and you can sign up for a chance to be the first to check that out.
The Sims 4 Updates
It might have been a decade already, but more is coming to The Sims 4. This includes further efforts in tackling “reported issues, quality assurance and game optimisation for future releases,” with a major release of fixes and a base game update expected today.
In addition, “The Sims 4 developers are hard at work investing in meaningful new features and base game updates,” and finding new ways “to play; to surprise and delight; to evolve the game in both appearance and gameplay experience.”
The Sims FreePlay
The mobile version of the beloved series will get more new content, gameplay and visual improvements, with the upcoming content update adding an entirely new region inspired by mountainside towns.
The Sims Movie in the Works
In partnership with Amazon MGM Studios, a film based on The Sims is currently in the works. Kate Herron will direct and co-write with Briony Redman, while LuckyChap and Vertigo Entertainment will produce alongside The Sims team, with Herron and Redman executive producing.
It is still early days, but there will be more details shared when the series hits its 25th birthday next year.
The Sims 4 Creator Kits
There is no doubt that creativity is at the heart of everything good about The Sims, and the developers know that the community has been a key part of that. This has lead to The Sims 4 Creator Kits, which are “designed and built by community creators to create new collections featuring unique styles and fresh storytelling potential. These Creator Kits will mark the first time that a full collection of in-game assets have been crafted by a creator and officially published by The Sims development team, making them available for all players.”
They will start arriving in November 2024, including for console players, so keep your eyes peeled for more options coming your way.
The Sims Labs and Creator Programme
While the base formula definitely works, EA is constantly trying to discover new experiential ways of playing The Sims. This is where The Sims Lab comes in, with the team “trying out different things for Sims products, systems and features.” Those interested in helping can sign up for a chance to playtest in The Sims Labs , and help make impactful changes for the series’ future.
Creators are also a vital component of the ecosystem, and the official Creator Programme will ensure that both established and up-and-coming creators globally can gain access to “a range of exclusive perks, including early access to upcoming Packs, direct communication with fellow creators and The Sims team, free swag, opportunities to collaborate, and more.”
